Oil-dip gage



S. F. BENSON.

OIL DIP GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1920.

1,360,492. Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

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wvemtoz S. F. BENSON.

OIL DIP GAGE.

APPLICATION man MAY13. 1920. 1 $60,492, I Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

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PATENT OFFICE.

STEWART I. BENSON, 0F BRAIId'EBD, MINNESOTA.

OIIi-DIP GAG-E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Application filed May 13, 1920. Serial 1T0. 381,142.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEWART F. BENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brainerd, in the county of Crow Wing and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Dip Gages; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In the manufacture and repair of gasolene and other engines, it is highly important that the oil dipping devices on the connecting rods or other oil dipping parts, shall dip only a proper amount into the oil contained in the oil pan. Otherwise faulty lubrication results, causing smoking and carbonizing if an excess of oil is supplied, or producing unnecessary wear if the oil dip is inadequate. These important facts are often neglected and my invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive means for determining whether the oil dipping parts are projected the proper distance into the oil during the downward swing of the engine cranks. By the use of the invention, if the oil dip is not correct it may be suitably rectified,. as hereinafter described.

I Other objects are to provide a device which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, easily used on numerous sizes and designs of engines, and one which may be carried in sections from place and readily assembled for use.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are elevations showing different steps in measuring the oil dip.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section, showing the gage which is applied to the engine upon removal of the oil p Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane of line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section as indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a lower end view.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on the plane lnd cated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

F1g. 9 s a .detail vertical section on the plane indicated by line 9-9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 1s a plan view of the sections of WhlCh the connecting portion of the U-shaped frame, to be described, is constructed.

In carrying out my invention, I provide gaging means applicable to the engine after removal of the 011 pan, such gaging means having relatively movable parts for contact simultaneously with the lower edge of the crank case and with a crank-carried oil dipping part, when the latter is at the limit of its downward movement. In connection with the gaging means, I employ means for first measuring the vertical distance between the relatively adjustable parts above mentioned, and for then measuring downwardly the same distance from the upper edge of the oil pan. The level at which the oil dipping part is located in the oil pan, when the latter is applied to the crank case, is thus definitely determined, and by filling the oil pan to the extent required for use, the exact amount which the oil dipping part is received in the oil, when the engine is in operation, may be accurately determined.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I make use of the several details shown in the drawings and described below, but it is to be understood that numerous minor changes and modifications may well be made.

The numeral 1 designates a frame having feet 2 or other suitable means for contact with the lower edge of the crank case 3, when the oil pan 4 is removed. Adjustably mounted on the frame 1, is a gage 5 which is adapted for contact with the usual horn or other oil dipping device 6 commonly carried by one of the bearings 7 of each connecting rod 8, such bearing being mounted on the crank shaft 9 in the usual way. As will be clear from Fig, 1, the crank carrying the horn 6 being gaged, is swung downwardly to the limit of its throw while the gaging operation is being carried on.

I prefer that the frame 1 shall be of U- shape with its two arms 10 formed of relatively adjustable sections secured together by bolts or the like 11 passing throu h openings 12. The feet 2 are earned by t e outer sections of the arms 10, while the inner sections of such arms are preferably bent laterally inward at 13 and secured by thumbscrews or the like ll to the adjustable sections 15 and 16 of which the arm-connecting portion of the frame 1 is formed.

The section 15 of' the above mentioned arm-connecting portion, is of channel form, and the other section 16 is slidably received therein, the inner ends of both sections being provided with slides 17, the slide of the one section embracing and being movable on the other section. Frictional contact is by preference relied upon to hold the two sections 15 and 16 in adjusted position, but positive locking means could of course be used if desired.

Mounted adjustably on the aforementioned arm-connecting-portion of the frame 1, is a slide 18 which carries the gage 5 above mentioned. This slide is preferably formed by bending a single strip of metal into the form shown in Fig. 9, its ends 19 depending in spaced parallel relation. The gage 5 is frictionally received between the ends 19 and said gage passes also through a slot 20 in the center of the slide 18, as well as through longitudinal slots 21 formed in the two arm sections 15 and 16, above described. For holding the gage 5 properly between the strip ends 19, said ends may well be connected by bolts 22 which may pass through washers 23, as shown for instance in Figs. 7 and 8.

Used in connection with the device above described is any suitable form of straight edge, such 'as that indicated at 25, and a scale or rule 26, and although said scale or rule .is by preference adjustablymounted on the straight edge, it may in some instances be entirely disconnected if desired.

In using the invention, the oil pan 4 is first removed from the crank case 3. The crank is then swung downwardly to the limit of its throw as depicted in Fig. 1, and the frame 1 is suitably adjusted'so that its feet 2 and the gage 5 simultaneously contact with the lower edge of the crank case and with the horn 6 or other oil dipping part. To properly adjust the frame it is obvious that its arms may be lengthened. or shortened by suitably adjustin the inner and outer sections thereof, and that the distance between these arms may be varied by relatively adjustin the bar sections 15 and 16. Regardless 0 these adjustments however the slide 18 may-be centrally positioned by shifting it as required, so that the gage 5 may be slid into contact with the oil dipping part. After performing the step indicated in Fig. 1, the gage is removed and the straight edge 25 and scale 26 are a plied as shown in Fi .2, for the purpose of measuring the vertical distance between the feet 2 and the active end of the gage 5. This distance is indicated at D in Fig. 2 and it will be observed that such distance is exactly the same as that existing between the lower edge of the crank case 3 and the lower extremity .of the horn or other oil dipping part 6. The straight edge 25 is next applied so that it spans the removed oil pan 4 shown in Fig. 3, and the measurement D is transferred downwardly from such straight edge into the oil pan. This shows the'exact point at which the horn or the like 6 is located in the oil pan when the motor is assembled for operation. With the proper oil level in the removed oil pan, if the lower end ofthe scale projects say one half inch into the oil, it is thus indicated that the horn or the like 6 dips to this extent. If this is proper, no alterations need be made. If however the horn should not dip to this extent, or should dip to a greater extent, it is either shortened or lengthened in any suitable manner so that the exact oil dip requisite for best results, may be obtained.

The device is comparatively simple and inexpensive, may be adjusted for use on engines of different sizes and designs, and may be knocked-down for carrying although it may be readily re-assembled for use whenever necessary. Since probably the best results may be obtained from the several details disclosed, such details may be followed but as above suggested, it is to be understood that numerous changes in form, proportion and minor details may be resorted to without sacrificing the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. An oil dip measuring device comprising a U-shaped frame for vertical disposition under the engine when the oil pan thereof is removed, the arms of said frame being adapted to contact with the bottom of the crank case, the arm connecting portion of the frame having a-longitudinal slot, a strip bent around said portion with its ends extending therefrom in spaced relation, said strip having an opening registering with the aforesaid slot, a gage passing through the slot and said opening and received between the ends of said strip, and means for holding said strip ends frictionally against said laterally into contact with said bar, means.

detachably connecting said bent arm end and in sliding relation with each other, a gage bar. a second bar slidably received in the bar extending transversely of the aforesaid channel of the aforesaid bar, a second arm bars, and means for slidably connecting said 10 having its inner end bent laterally against gage bar with the other bars.

5 one side of said second bar, means connect- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing said last named arm end With said secmy hand.

ond bar, guides for holding the tWo bars STEWART F. BENSON. 

